International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach got very much into the spirit of Olympic Day today, addressing over 1,000 runners in a 5.2 km run before hosting Olympic Day celebrations at the IOC headquarters, where he called on people around the world to get physically active and enjoy the benefits of leading healthy lifestyles.

Joining President Bach for the kick-off of the 2nd edition of the Olympic Capital Run were fellow Olympians and current International Academy of Sports Science and Technology (AISTS) students Udo-Obong Enee (Nigeria, athletics), Hisham Shehab (Bahrain, aquatics), Slaven Dizdarevic (Slovakia, decathlon) and Maria Ntanou (Greece, cross-country skiing). Athens 2004 mascots Athena and Phevos and London 2012 mascot Wenlock were also on hand to help spread the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect.

By: FIFA.com

Sudan has been picked to host East and Central Africa's first ever pre-Olympic football qualifying competition this year in a bid to enhance its chances of reaching the 2016 games.

Nicholas Musonye, the secretary of the East and Central Africa Football Federation (CECAFA) said the U-23 tournament in Khartoum in September will be used to prepare the region ahead of the African Olympic football qualifiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo next year.

"We are all aware that no football team from the East and Central African region has ever qualified for the Olympic Games. That is why we are holding this event to nurture the teams towards the African qualifiers. We are keen to have at least one team coming from this region in the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro," Musonye told a news conference in Nairobi.

Sudan will also stage CECAFA's maiden Nile Basin Cup Winners Cup for league runner-up teams in May and June this year.

Musonye has lamented the failure of football clubs from the 12-member countries of CECAFA to progress beyond the second round of both the African Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup competitions this season. "It shows a bad sign for football in this region. Our teams have not realized that African football is tricky and very demanding and they tend not to prepare well for it."

By: Editor

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced that Ralfs Freibergs of Latvia has been excluded from the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

Freibergs, 23, provided a urine sample on 22 February whose A and B samples indicated the presence of a prohibited substance.

The IOC Disciplinary Commission, composed for this case of Denis Oswald (Chairman), Gunilla Lindberg and Claudia Bokel, decided the following:

I           The Athlete, Mr Ralfs Freibergs, Latvia, Ice Hockey is disqualified from the Men’s Play-offs Quarterfinals – Canada vs Latvia match.

II.          The Athlete is considered as excluded from the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi in 2014.

III.         The Athlete’s diploma (for placing 8th) is withdrawn.

IV.        The International Ice Hockey Federation is hereby requested to make appropriate mention of the above in the record of the sports results, and to consider whether it should take any further action within its competence.

V.         The Latvian Olympic Committee is hereby requested to return to the IOC, as soon as possible, the diploma awarded to the athlete in relation to the above-mentioned event.

VI.        This decision shall enter into force immediately.

Under the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, testing took place under the IOC's auspices from 30 January (the date of the opening of the Olympic Villages) to 23 February 2014 (the date of the Closing Ceremony). Within that period, the IOC systematically performed tests before and after events. After each event, the IOC systematically carried out tests on the top five finishers plus two at random. The IOC also performed unannounced out-of-competition tests. Over the course of the Sochi Games, the IOC carried out some 2,812 tests (2,186 urine and 626 blood) – an Olympic Winter Games record.

The full decision is available here.

By: Farai Diza

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) has congratulated Paralympian wheelchair racer and hand cyclist, Ernst van Dyk who made history on Monday by winning a record 10th wheelchair title in the Boston Marathon.

Van Dyk crossed the finish line in an hour, 20 minutes, 36 seconds and holds the record for most Boston Marathon wins.

Some of van Dyks achievements include being awarded the Laureus World Sports Award   for Sportsperson with a Disability in 2006, winning a bronze medal in the 400m at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, silver medal in the 800m at the 2004 Summer Paralympics and another silver in the 1500m, and a bronze in the 5000m.

He also won a gold medal in the hand cycling road race at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Beijing as well as bronze in the wheelchair marathon. At the last Paralympics, in London two years back, van Dyk won silver in the road race.

“Well done to Ernst for such a great performance at the Boston Marathon. You continue to fly the South African flag high and this is a positive outcome on our Road to Rio in 2016. We are positive you will continue to perform exceptionally going forward,” said SASCOC CEO, Tubby Reddy.

Van Dyk is a six time Paralympian athlete who has competed in three different sports mainly swimming, athletics and cycling.

By: Editor

“At a very early stage in my life, I found a language that helped me connect to the world and other people, other nations. This was and still is the language of the sport. This is a language without boundaries and it travels freely and safely among the people of the world,”  said the AIBA President.

Lausanne, Switzerland, April 23, 2014 - The President of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) Dr Ching-Kuo Wu was conferred today the Honorary Doctorate from the Bulgarian National Sports Academy “Vassil Levski” (NSA) in Sofia.

In his Honorary Doctorate Acceptance Speech Dr. Wu, who also serves as the Executive Board member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), thanked the Academic Council and underlined that by instilling the Olympic values and culture in the young generation, this educational institution not only produces the best ambassadors of these values, but also fosters better members of our society.

Attending the momentous occasion included the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport Mr. Yorgan Yevchev, the Bulgarian Olympic Committee General Secretary Mr. Belcho Goranov, and the Bulgarian Boxing Federation President Mr Krasimir Ininski.

The National Sports Academy plays a fundamental role in developing the potential and talent of thousands of students of Bulgaria, and since 1942 has become one of the most important promoters of sporting values in the country, as well as at the international level.

The “Vassil Levski” Academy awards with Doctor Honoris Causa an honorary degree to prominent public and sport-engaged persons, with special contributions to the development of sport education, Olympism and to preserving the values of youth civil and social integration.

This ceremony first took place in 1996, when the Academic Council of the NSA made the decision for conferring the title as a way of honouring distinguished people.

Since then, the honorary sign has been bestowed to 18 world sport and public leaders, among them the former IOC Presidents Juan Antonio Samaranch and Dr. Jacques Rogge.

The AIBA President is visiting Sofia this week on the occasion of the 2014 Youth World Boxing Championships, which is being hosted in the Bulgarian capital.

By: Editor

Participants at the Coaches Course in Ethiopia

Lausanne, Switzerland, April 15, 2014 – The Ethiopian Volleyball Federation organized a VCP Coaches Level I Course from April 6 to 13 under the instruction of FIVB instructor Bernard José Denis from the Seychelles.

A total of 26 men and eight women from Ethiopia took part in the programme. The participants demonstrated good discipline and punctuality.

The overall organisation of the course was very good, with both the General Secretary and the Technical Director present on every day of the programme. 

The presence of various officers from either Sports Commissions or the National Olympic Committee demonstrated the interest in volleyball in the country. 

The NOC donated a T-shirt to all the 34 participants and course organizers, to congratulate them on a great achievement for the sport in Ethiopia.

The program was officially closed by the President of the National Federation, Begziabher Alebel, in a short ceremony at the YMCA in Addis Ababa. 

The General Secretary expressed his satisfaction on how the course was run by the instructor and the way he managed the lectures and the practical activities. Overall the course was a great success and the learning atmosphere was excellent.

By: Editor

Lausanne, Switzerland, April 22, 2014 - For the first time in the history of the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships, nineteen box-off contests were held at the Armeec Arena.


This intriguing concept saw six ladies and thirteen male bouts, with the winner of each qualifying for the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympics.

Bout of the day
Japan’s High School Selection Tournament winner Subaru Murata began boxing in Osaka in 2008.

The Japanese Light Flyweight class (49 kg) boxer advanced to the quarter-finals in Sofia, where he lost to Kazakhstan’s Shalkar Aikynbay in a narrow contest.

His opponent in the box-offs was Venezuela’s Yoel Segundo Finol, who had a career best tournament in advancing to the last eight in Sofia.

The two boxers shared a great opening round, each using excellent combinations and strength.

Murata was the one who changed gears however, and attacked the second round with great ferocity, producing furiously fast punches on a consistent basis.

The Japanese southpaw boxer attacked until the final bell, resulting in a unanimous decision victory for the 17-year-old.

Team of the day
Great Britain’s only remaining female boxer in Sofia was the EUBC European Women’s Junior Championships gold medallist Crystal Barker, who experienced a surprise loss in the quarter-finals.

To keep her chances of traveling to the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympics, she would have to get past Chinese Taipei’s younger Huang Hsiao Wen in their box-off.

It resulted in an enthralling battle with end to end action. Huang tried to keep the distance between them, and used her reach well, but Barker broke through her defense in the second round.

The 17-year-old Asian girl however had the best of the third and final round, and her efficient punches resulted for in a close  victory in the box-offs, meaning further disappointment for Barker.

Ireland’s AIBA Junior World Champion, and AIBA Junior Female Boxer of the Year 2013 Ciara Ginty was defeated by Italy’s EU Women’s Youth Championships silver medallist Monica Floridia in Sofia, which was one of the biggest surprises of the quarter-finals.

The 17-year-old Irish Lightweight class (60 kg) hope controlled the first round of her box-off against Chinese Taipei’s Wu Pei Yi.

Ginty faltered in the second round, as her Asian opponent turned up the heat, scoring with some lethal hooks which reached the target.

The third round proved one of the best of the tournament so far. It was a real battle, with Ginty starting well with some fierce uppercuts.

Unfortunately for the highly raited Ginty, Wu was able to turn back the bout, eventually winning the contest and ensuring another memorable day in Sofia for Chinese Taipei.  

AIBA Road to Sofia boxer of the day
Cuba’s defending AIBA Junior World Champion Alayn Limonta Boudet was shocked by Japan’s new sensation Go Hosaka in the quarter-finals, which meant he would not medal in Sofia.

His opponent in the box-offs was another great prospect, Mexico’s current AMBC American Youth Continental Champion William Zepeda Segura.

The AIBA Road to Sofia Program member Limonta had a slow start to the contest, but he soon adapted to the speed of the contest.

Zepeda never gave up, and boxed well, but it was Limonta who won the contest by split decision.

Surprise of the day
Hungary's Youth National Champion and Julius Torma Memorial Tournament winner Richard Toth has had a marvelous tournament in Sofia.

The Light Welterweight class (64 kg) almost defeated Ukraine's star Viktor Petrov in the quarter-finals, and won his box-off against another top rival, the EUBC European Junior Continental Champion Adem Furkan Avci of Turkey.

Toth doesn’t turn 18 until October, but his power and speed are already there, and his quick combinations resulted in his fourth triumph in Sofia.

Ones to watch
Russia’s EUBC European Junior Continental Champion Ekaterina Paltceva had to fight in the box-off on Tuesday in spite of her excellent previous results.

The 17-year-old Russian Flyweight class (51 kg) boxer fought for the right to fight in the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympics against Vietnam’s new sensation Nguyen Than Thuy.

Both boxers are southpaw, which saw a tactically sound battle occur.

Paltceva had a height disadvantage against her Vietnamese opponent, but she boxed clever, with constant counter-attacks and speedy punches en route to victory.

Sweden’s defending AIBA Youth World Champion and former AIBA Junior World Champion Agnes Alexiusson had a surprise loss in the quarter-finals, but she proved her top skills against Hungary’s 17-year-old newcomer Daniella Posta in their box-off.

After a cagey opening round, the more experienced Swedish boxer went on to dominated the contest, ultimately winning with ease.

EUBC European Junior Continental Champion Daniel Asenov of Bulgaria, and AIBA Team’s current ASBC Asian Youth Continental Champion Gaurav Solanki both had to fight in a box-off in Sofia following their losses in the quarter-finals.

Asenov who eliminated a tough Russian boxer in the opening round of competition was able to fight with bigger motivation on home soil on Day 9 than his Indian rival.

The 17-year-old Bulgarian Flyweight class (52 kg) boxer used aggressive tactics, and reduced the fighting distance against Solanki, who improved in the third round to no avail, as the hometown hero secured qualification.

Quote of the day
"I thought it would be strange to fight again after my unsuccessful quarter-final in the championships, but after my first emotions I was happy to get another chance, so I was so excited to fight today. I was pretty nervous before the contest because I knew this is my last chance to qualify to the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympics. When I entered the ring these feelings disappeared and I felt myself focused and confident. I am happy that I could win this bout against the Hungarian girl who was strong in the fights," commented Sweden's Agnes Alexiusson.

Tomorrow’s program
The twenty six semi-final contests will be held in three sessions on Wednesday, which will be the tenth competition day at the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships

By: Editor

Lausanne, Switzerland, April 14, 2014 - The first AIBA event of 2014, the Youth World Championships opened today in Sofia, Bulgaria with the winners of the bouts at Light Flyweight class (46-49kg) and Flyweight (52kg) advanced to the second round of the preliminaries.

Bout of the day
France's Anthony Gimenez began his boxing career in 2007, stepping up to international level last year when he competed in various youth events. The 17-year-old French Light Flyweight came to Sofia following an unexpected loss in the Brandenburg Youth Cup in February, where he claimed a bronze medal.

Since then, Gimenez raised his training in an attempt to perform better in the AIBA Youth World Championships. The French boxer met Botswana's best youth competitor, AFBC African Youth Continental Championships silver medallist Mohammed Otukile on Day 1.

The African athlete, who trains in a boxing school led by Beijing 2008 Olympic Games quarter-finalist Khumiso Ikgopoleng, stepped up his tactics after the first round, which led to one of the best fights of the day produced by the two exciting youngsters.

Team of the day
Two Mongolian boxers had the honour of fighting on this opening day, and both secured their places in the last 32. Battamir Ganbold competed in the last edition of the AIBA Junior World Championships, and his experience showed as he shocked South Korea's medal contender Han Younghun in the opening round.

The Korean boxer was silver medallist at the ASBC Asian Youth Continental Championships in Bangkok in January, but could not solve Ganbold's tactics in Sofia.

Ganbold’s compatriot, the Youth National Champion Tumurkhuyag Bat-Ochir also defeated his first opponent today. The 17-year-old Mongolian athlete controlled his bout against South Africa's Edwin Tshabalala, who moved down to the Light Flyweight category just before the competition.

Despite Tshabalala’s best efforts, he lost the bout by unanimous decision, giving Mongolia their second triumph in the tournament.

AIBA Road to Sofia boxer of the day
Abednego Kyalo won the Kenyan Youth National Trials earlier this year, and he was invited to the AIBA Road to Sofia training camp before the Championships. The Kenyan only turned 17 in January, but his extra skills saw him beat Bhutan's Children of Asia Games bronze medallist Tashi Wangdi.

After a quiet first round for the Kenyan, Kyalo was able to present better attacks from the second, and become the first AIBA Road to Sofia athlete to win.

Another program member in Tajikistan's AIBA Junior World Championships quarter-finalist Umed Yakubov was not so lucky with his draw, and he was defeated by Russia's current Youth National Champion Pavel Fedorov in the first session of the day.

Surprises of the day
Turkey's Mert Karaklic won the Danas Pozniakas Youth Memorial Tournament in Lithuania last month, but he had a tough draw against Thailand's current ASBC Asian Youth Continental Champion Thani Narinram.

The Turkish Light Flyweight surprisingly won every round 10:9, which saw him drawn in the next stage of the AIBA Youth World Championships, where he will meet Germany's Denis Weber.

Another Turkish boxer, Omer Koc was the favourite against Algeria’s Jugurtha Ait Bekka and he opened the first round with excellent jabs. His Algerian opponent rallied well however, and won the rest of the fight decisively.

Ones to watch
Azerbaijan’s EUBC European Youth Continental Championships silver medallist Masud Yusifzada is one of the favourites at Flyweight . His rhythm and tactical skills are some of the best in his weight category, and he needed to use all of his knowledge against Japan’s southpaw Kantaro Juri.

The 18-year-old Azeri boxer operated with quick combinations, and his counter-attacks reached the target in the second round, ensuring his hand was raised after the bout.

Muhammad Ali is one of the most iconic names in boxing, with England's new youth hope sharing the same name as the US boxing legend. Ali performed well in the first preliminary round in Sofia.

The 18-year-old English Flyweight turned around his bout against Venezuela's South American Youth Games winner Franklin Gonzalez, in a contest that provided high quality boxing.

Tomorrow’s program
The Bantamweight (56kg) and the Lightweight (60kg) categories will be in action and among the men boxers will be Kazakhstan's AIBA Junior World Champion star Abylaykhan Zhussupov.

The youth women also open their Championships at Flyweight (48-51kg). With 36 athletes in the field, eight of them must step into the ring in the second competition day in order to reach the last 32 of the competition.

By: Farai Diza

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel accused Oscar Pistorius on Monday of faking emotional distress on the witness stand.

He contended this was happening because Pistorius knew his version of why he shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp did not hold water.

As the disabled Olympic athlete broke down under cross examination in the Pretoria High Court, Nel asked point blank: “Mr Pistorius you are not using your emotional state as an escape are you?”

Pistorius, who risks a life sentence for premeditated murder, protested that he had become emotional because he was recalling a traumatic event.

In his fourth day of facing questions from Nel, Pistorius insisted he had not intended to fire his 9mm pistol when he sent four shots into a locked toilet door in his house on Valentines Day last year, fatally wounding the 29 year old Steenkamp.

Pistorius said his arm had not been extended, but bent when he pulled the trigger, adding: “I didn’t intend to fire, but I fired. I fired my fire arm out of fear, by accident.”

The prosecutor repeatedly told Pistorius that he had strayed far from his evidence in chief on many points, including where he had placed the electric fan said he had moved around the bed before hearing a suspicious noise.

By: Farai Diza

With sports federations demanding a “Plan B” because of the chronic delays in Rio de Janeiro, the International Olympic Committee said last week that it was premature to speculate about Brazil losing the games.

IOC president Thomas Bach said the construction hold ups and political paralysis have reached a critical point, requiring the IOC to save the games.

“It is about time for action,” Bach said.

By Editor

Lausanne, Switzerland, April 14, 2014 – FIVB Medical Commission and IOC Medical Commission member Roald Bahr is part of the organizing committee for the IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury & Illness in Monaco, which wraps up Monday. 

The conference, which began April 10, is the premier international conference for those interested in clinical aspects of sports and exercise medicine, according to the IOC.

“The diverse faculty represent the pre-eminent international authorities in injury and illness prevention.

By Editor

After a year’s hiatus Africa’s first ever and only comprehensive sports magazine has returned with a bang. In this issue of African Sports Monthly we dedicate the front cover to the greatest African that ever lived in Nelson ‘Madiba’ Mandela for his incomparable contribution to Africa especially so in the world of sports. Nelson Mandela died on December 5th 2013 but his legacy in many facets of life, most particularly his recognition of the value of sports within society will forever remain with us in Africa. He stands alone as one of the very few African leaders who knew and saw the true value of sports as a vehicle of social mobilization to achieve a myriad of significant milestones one of which was in uniting South Africa which was at the crossroads to a brutal Civil War back in the mid 1990’s

By: Editor

The President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach today December 30th 2013 released a statement about the terrorist attacks in Volgograd, Russia.

"This is a despicable attack on innocent people and the entire Olympic Movement joins me in utterly condemning this cowardly act. Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the victims.

I have personally written to the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to express our condolences to the Russian people and our confidence in the Russian authorities to deliver safe and secure Games in Sochi. I am certain that everything will be done to ensure the security of the athletes and all the participants of the Olympic Games.